NEPAL-MOUNTAIN RANGE-LANDSCAPE

NEPAL-MOUNTAIN RANGE-LANDSCAPE

(230625) -- POKHARA, June 25, 2023 (Xinhua) -- The Annapurna range is seen on a flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu in Nepal, June 25, 2023. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

NEPAL-MOUNTAIN RANGE-LANDSCAPE

NEPAL-MOUNTAIN RANGE-LANDSCAPE

(230625) -- POKHARA, June 25, 2023 (Xinhua) -- The Annapurna range is seen on a flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu in Nepal, June 25, 2023. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

NEPAL-MOUNTAIN RANGE-LANDSCAPE

NEPAL-MOUNTAIN RANGE-LANDSCAPE

(230625) -- POKHARA, June 25, 2023 (Xinhua) -- The Annapurna range is seen on a flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu in Nepal, June 25, 2023. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

Dragon boat racing adds joy, boosts Nepal-China friendship

STORY: Dragon boat racing adds joy, boosts Nepal-China friendship DATELINE: June 24, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:55 LOCATION: POKHARA, Nepal CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the dragon boat event STORYLINE: The tranquil Phewa Lake in Nepal's Pokhara was transformed into a lake of joy on Friday morning as eight dragon boat teams competed fiercely against each other during the first Nepal-China dragon boat race festival. Mt. Machhapuchhre, not seen easily during this season, was clearly visible along with the Annapurna range, adding color to the boat racing. Each of the eight teams comprised one drummer, one cox and 10 rowers, and among the eight teams were four Nepali teams, two Chinese teams, one team from Singapore and one team involving both Nepali and Chinese nationals. The rowers, to the rhythm of the drum beats and braving the scorching sun, rowed hard their dragon-shaped boats to the finish lines in unison, sparking waves now and then. The spectators, either on the bank or in the boats, wa

China's Dong becomes first woman to conquer all 14 peaks above 8,000m

STORY: China's Dong becomes first woman to conquer all 14 peaks above 8,000m DATELINE: May 4, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:31 LOCATION: LHASA, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Dong Hongjuan ascending the Mount Shishapangma STORYLINE: Chinese mountaineer Dong Hongjuan has become the first woman to conquer all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters on earth. Dong, 42, successfully ascended to the summit of 8,027-meter Mount Shishapangma on May 26, which was confirmed by the international mountaineering summit website 8000ers.com on Sunday. Dong reached the summit of Mt. Qomolangma in 2013, completed Cho Oyu and Gasherbrum II in 2014, Qogir (K2), Nanga Parbat and Gasherbrum I in 2017, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Broad in 2018, Annapurna in 2021, Makalu, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu in 2022. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lhasa, China. (XHTV)

Nepali female photographer's journey to high mountains

STORY: Nepali female photographer's journey to high mountains DATELINE: June 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:50 LOCATION: Kathmandu CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Purnima Shrestha climbing the mountains STORYLINE: Purnima Shrestha is a photojournalist by profession, but the 31-year-old Nepali woman is better known now as a mountaineer, as in just four years, she has conquered all the seven mountains above 8,000 meters in Nepal. Lately, Purnima scaled three peaks above 8,000 meters, first Mt. Kanchanjunga, the world's third highest on May 5, and then Mt. Lhotse, the fourth tallest on May 16, and next Mt. Makalu, the fifth highest on May 27. With these ascents, she has achieved the feat of climbing all the seven eight-thousanders in her country. She had already scaled Mt. Manaslu, Mt. Qomolangma, Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Dhaulagiri. Purnima is proud of her success as she never thought that the journey to high mountains would be so fast and exciting. The success in her climbing career has strengthened her